HEALTH & FITNESS ARTICLES

Healthy Plan for Losing Weight

Choosing a Healthy Plan for Losing Weight

There are scores of weight loss plans out there that claim to make you lose weight in a simple and swift manner. Deciding the ones worth following can be a tough task. Do not go for plans that promise to make you lose weight without having to do anything. Without putting in any effort there's a very small chance of you getting slim. The programs for weight loss are recommended only if they:

promote regular physical activities

limit the weight loss to not more than 2lbs a week

support a healthy and balanced diet

BMI

BMI, or the Body Mass Index, is a scale that gauges the weight ratio of a body. So, before beginning weight loss plans, ensure that you really are overweight and need to lose a few pounds by looking at the BMI table. A score of above 25 on the BMI scale makes you eligible for weight loss plans.

Healthy diets

Losing weight means burning up more calories than you take by:

increasing the amount of physical activity that you perform

eating a balanced and healthy diet which is low in calories

Any weight loss program that you choose should have a basic healthy and balanced diet as a rule. This means:

taking in high fiber or unrefined types of starchy carbohydrates

cutting down on the sugar and fat intake

having not less than five portions of vegetables and fruits everyday

Exercises

Weight loss programs that you follow should contain consistent physical activity. Your present fitness levels determine how much physical activity you will be required to do. Whenever you start with exercising, you should start slow and then build up gradually.

Adults need to put in at least two and a half hours of moderate-intensity activities like jogging or cycling every week. Even if you don't lose weight by just doing aerobic activities, you are bound to get healthier by simply completing the activity guidelines. For losing weight, you'll be required to work more than these amounts, apart from changing your diet.

Taking it slow

Weight loss should be limited to 0.5-1kg (1-2lb) per week at the start of any program. You have to be realistic about the amount of weight and the speed at which you want to lose it. Taking prescription pills and supplements won't be of much help. Indeed, they can even end up harming you, and you should consult your physician before opting for this method.

Motivation

Short-term motivation is easy to achieve. When you start losing weight, you tend to get more compliments about how you look then, but once the heavy weight loss stops, it can get difficult to stay motivated after you don't see any results on your body. Internal motivation should kick in at this stage. If you manage to keep weight off for long periods of time, you are likely to stay healthier for a longer time.

Weight loss plans are very popular and if you manage to find or make one for yourself, then you are on the right path toward a healthy life.